Jun 19 - Another flood in Rapid City

Monday, June 19, 1972 - Page 171
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:30 PM 6/20/1972)
It has been decided that I'm not gonna work any more at landscaping, and I'm leaving for S.D. [South Dakota] on the 28th (Jim & Cynthia are coming down for the 4th of July on the 29). Tom came back to Bethlehem --- Gil's in Pennsylvania burying somebody, and Rapid had another flood recently with 4 more feet of water. I've gotta get stuff prepared for the trip.

Still have not heard anything from the Latkas. Mayhaps I went too far with my irreverence in my last letter and they decided not to associate with me. Anyway, this book will return to South Dakota for another month or so.

Monday I woke up at 8:00, having got to sleep at 2:00. I got most of my photos selected to go with me to S.D. (to practice drawing) and I got to sleep at around 4 P.M., waking at 6:30 P.M. Mom had gone to bridge. I watched T.V. and washed the dishes. Went to bed about 1:30, ... [continued on next page]

Jun 08 - Job Day 3 - LA Dodgers win

Thursday, June 8, 1972 - Page 160
LOCATION: Oxnard, California

Vagabond Motor Hotel matchbook

(2:30 PM Saturday 6/10/1972)
The phone rang. I answered it with a "Thank you," and hung up. Everyone got up, John first, Chunk next and me last. We ate breakfast and John went back to the Motel to call Jerry while Chunk got the car started. He spent quite a while with the answering service but failed to contact him, so he told him to return the call at 5:30. Jerry never did -- that, and other factors (part of which was several further attempts to contact him Friday, and the fact that Jerry never called Rick to tell him what to do, so Rick had to drive down -- or up -- to Oxnard to work half a day yet get full day pay).

This led to quite a bit of anger focussed toward Jerry by John (reaching their peak on Friday), the resolution of which will become apparent on Monday, maybe. Two Chicanos showed up on Thursday. They all are in the Union -- Bob & Frank don't mind working though, but Fernando -- the mongolian -- is dedicated to Time & a half, and all other Union benefits. Chunk, me, and John had to pretend to be Union members to keep legal with Fern.

Anyway, we worked on the front lawns, getting them raked, seeded, etc. The architect was supposed to show up early Thurs. morn to verify the position of the trees -- he never showed up at all, so we went ahead & planted the trees around the pool Fri anyway. Had dinner, then Frank & his brother showed up to take John to the Dodger's game in L.A. They bought beer, and an enthusiasm for chess, so I played Frank & beat him. They left.

Chunk and I played chess and watched T.V. I won two games, he won six. We watched the six-thirty movie: "Hemingway's 'Adventures of a Young Man' " Part I. Also watched "Alias Smith & Jones," and another movie: "Double Trouble" with Danny Kaye. Chunk took a shower and went to sleep. Then I took a shower. John got back at 12:00. The game was 1 to 2, Dodger's won. They drank alot, celebrating something.

Original Theatrical Poster, 1962

Jun 07 - Job Day 2 - Led by Capt Kirk look-alike**

Wednesday, June 7, 1972 - Page 159
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Oxnard, California

4:10:45 AM
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

3:00 PM
Chunk drove, me & Winnie rode to the yard, and Chunk & Me & John rode to Oxnard, 2 hours, 100 miles away, north of LA. John stopped once for coffee. We got to the place at 7:00 and walked around looking the place over, and John was displeased with the maintenance of the areas that they'd already landscaped.

Luxurious Vagabond in beautiful downtown Ox. Nard.

That day was spent mostly spotting plants and trees. Jerry, the boss, showed up to give suggestions and look at the work. A new maintenance man was hired. Jerry left late in the day. Only we three -- John, Chunk, me -- worked that day, and I developed most of my pains then. The day ended at 4, though we quit at around 3:30 to straighten things out. Took showers, ate dinner at the Colony Kitchen, next door to our Motel, the Vagabond -- John wasn't too happy to learn we couldn't charge the meals. Jerry would hear about that. We had to use John's master charge for food.

I remembered that a few weeks ago Chunk had mentioned that his boss looked like William Shatner -- I didn't notice the resemblance until John had done hard work, with his hair uncombed and a serious look on his face. He does look a lot like Shatner, and his profile looks exactly like him, though he is shorter and stockier. It's interesting, being led by the Commander of the Starship Enterprise. John Bodkins is an amiable expert of human nature, and a good guy to work for.

Got to bed at 8:00, but I read "The Other" until 11:00. The weather was usually cloudy, and it sprinkled occasionally.